TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A lifeless Fraser’s dolphin was found on a beach in Taitung County’s Changbin Township on Sunday afternoon, according to the Coast Guard.
A Coast Guard coastal patrol team was dispatched after members of the public reported the stranding. The National Cheng Kung University Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center was also contacted to assist with species identification and follow-up investigation, per CNA.
In a press release, the Coast Guard’s Eastern Branch 13th Coastal Patrol said it received the report at about 1:45 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, personnel found the dolphin measured about 2.2 meters long. The carcass was moved to higher ground to prevent it from being washed away by waves.
With assistance from NCKU researchers, the animal was identified as a Fraser’s dolphin. At about 9 p.m., a commissioned contractor arrived and transported the carcass to the NCKU Marine Biology and Cetacean Research Center for examination, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard reminded the public that Taiwan’s coastal areas are rich in wildlife and that stranded marine animals are not uncommon. It urged people to avoid disturbing or touching wildlife unnecessarily.
The agency also advised reducing the use of flashlights and other light sources at night to minimize disturbance to wildlife activity. Members of the public who encounter injured wildlife or other conservation-related incidents are encouraged to call the Coast Guard’s 118 hotline for assistance.
Coast Guard personnel will respond promptly, the agency said, adding that public cooperation is key to protecting Taiwan’s marine life and natural ecosystems.
